Dolphins beaten in Bloemfontein

Junior Dala and Shaun von Berg shared six wickets as the Multiply Titans extended their excellent start to the ‎T20 Challenge season with 58-run bonus-point win over the Hollywoodbets Dolphins at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

Seamer Dala bagged 3/30, while spinner Von Berg took 3/25 as Kevin Pietersen’s debut was an unhappy one after the Durbanites could only manage a paltry 127/8 in pursuit of 186. The former England batsman made 24 and was the second best contributor for his side behind captain Morne van Wyk (41), but the rest of the Dolphins batted wilted.

The only thing that did go wrong for the defending champions, who have now won all four matches this term, was losing the toss.

Farhaan Behardien top-scored with a magnificent unbeaten 65 (33 balls, 1 fours, 4 sixes) to lead the way for his team. This was after Jonathan Vandiar (40 off 33) and Grant Mokoena (25 off 26)‎ put on a 61-run opening stand.

‎Even after both fell, the momentum continued through Behardien and Heino Kuhn (32 not out off 17 balls)‎ in a 93-run fourth-wicket partnership. That helped the Titans amass 185/4 – a total that proved way too high for the Dolphins, who suffered their second loss in three matches.